Today’s Devotional: Mark 12

You can download this week’s entire Daily Devotional in booklet form here.

Jesus followed up the back-and-forth with the religious leaders (11:27-33) with a parable teaching what was happening right then: God sent prophets to Israel calling them to repentance, yet Israel continually ignored/rejected them (vv. 1-5). God then sent his eternally begotten Son, but Israel would not only reject but kill him (vv. 6-8). God would thus judge that generation of Jews who rejected their Christ (vv. 9-11). This infuriated the religious leaders who thus sought to do exactly what Jesus just said they would do (v. 12; cf. v. 7).  

The Pharisees and Herodians then tried to get Jesus to say he was either for or against Rome (vv. 13-15). Being “for” Rome would infuriate the Jews; being “against” Rome would be an act of treason. Either way their goal was his execution, but they failed (vv. 15-17). Then the “liberal” side of Israel’s religious leaders (v. 18) tried to get Jesus to speak against the Law (vv. 19-23), but they also failed (vv. 24-27).  

One scribe, having heard Jesus’ answers to the Sadducees, asked Jesus which of God’s laws was most important (v. 28; Jewish traditionalists added 613 commands to “protect” the Law). Jesus’ answers (vv. 29-31) impressed the scribe (vv. 32-33). While the scribe agreed with Jesus, true faith is seen in a whole-life commitment and action, which Jesus said he yet needed (v. 34).  

Jesus then proved from Scripture that he, the Messiah, while a human being was also eternal God (vv. 35-37). He also warned Israelites against their hypocritical religious leaders that God would judge (vv. 38-40; Matt 23 gives Jesus’ full warning).  

These proud, self-righteous religious leaders flaunted their wealth and made a show of their giving, but Jesus pointed out that what matters in giving is the heart (vv. 41-44).  

Truths to Nail Down and Apply

1. Some right responses to God’s truth and agreement with it is not saving faith (vv. 28-34). There must be complete and total dependence and reliance on Jesus Christ.
2. Jesus responded to attacks with wisdom—the correct and right application of Scriptural truth to different situations.
3. Man may look at and be impressed by externals, but God looks at and knows the heart (vv. 41-44).

Today’s Devotional: Mark 11

You can download this week’s entire Daily Devotional in booklet form here.

Though Jesus had foretold his betrayal and death in Jerusalem, that did not change who he was, the Son of God, Israel’s King and Messiah. So when he entered Jerusalem he did so as Israel’s promised King, the Son of David, in accord with OT prophecies (vv. 1-11; cf. Zech 9:9).  

In the OT the Lord referred to Israel as a fig tree (Hos 9:10; Joel 1:7) and a vine (Isa 5:1-6) that he planted expecting good fruit from. Jesus’ judgment of the fruitless fig tree (vv. 12-14) demonstrated his judgment on Israel; despite their appearance as God’s people, their lack of faith and righteous fruit proved otherwise. Jesus also used this event to teach his disciples about prayer and faith (vv. 20-26).  

As the Son of God Jesus drove merchants out of the temple, his Father’s house, which was to be for prayer, not commerce (vv. 15-19).  

When Jesus was in the temple the religious leaders challenged his authority for what he did (vv. 27-28). Jesus thwarted their efforts by showing that as they did not submit to God’s authority manifested through John the Baptist’s message, so they would not submit to the same heavenly authority Jesus acted from (vv. 29-33).  

Truths to Nail Down and Apply

1. Zechariah 9:9 foretold of the Messiah’s entrance into Jerusalem and 9:10 of his judgment of the nations, bringing an end to war, and establishing his worldwide rule. Zechariah 9:9 was fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming (Mark 11:1-7), and 9:10 will be fulfilled in his second coming (Rev 19:11-20:6).
2. Looking like a Christian and being a Christian are two entirely different things. Though Israel looked like God’s people because of their religious actions, most of them were not God’s people because of their unbelief.
3. Whenever you pray you must have a right attitude toward your sin before God (confession) and be forgiving toward those who sin against you.

Today’s Devotional: Mark 10:1-31

You can download this week’s entire Daily Devotional in booklet form here.

Jesus the Son of God left the region of Galilee for Judea (v. 1; cf. vv. 32, 46; 11:1, 12, 15, 27). As he traveled he taught the people and was frequently tested and opposed by the Pharisees. The Pharisees did not agree among themselves about what were legitimate grounds for divorce. Many Pharisees as well as Mark’s Gentile, Roman readership believed that one could get divorced for any reason and then remarry. In verses 3-12 Jesus denied this, teaching that God created marriage to be a life-long relationship between a man and a woman (vv. 6-12). In OT Law divorce had very strict parameters and was permitted to protect spouses from fickle abandonment (v. 5; cf. Deut 24:1-4).  

Parents brought their children to Jesus but the disciples told them to stop it (v. 13). Jesus rebuked the disciples, commanding them to allow the children to come to him and teaching the character of saving faith (vv. 15-16). The disciples had not listened to nor learned Jesus’ teaching earlier (9:33-37).  

One came to Jesus asking about the way to eternal life (v. 17). Jesus told him that the evidences of faith must be present in his life (vv. 18-9), which included not loving the things of this world but rather loving the Lord and one’s neighbor (v. 21). The inquirer left, loving the world too much (v. 22). Jesus taught the disciples that while truly believing in and following him involves denying oneself, the Lord abundantly cares for his children (vv. 23-31).  

Truths to Nail Down and Apply

1. Nothing has changed about God’s intention and will regarding marriage. Marriage is a life-long covenant between a man and a woman. Though our society thinks it can ignore and change the character and plan for marriage, God’s will still stands.
2. Children are the Lord’s blessing (Psa 127:3-5) and Christians and the church must have Jesus’ valuation of them, not the world’s (v. 14).
3. You will love and live for what you trust in, whether that is the things of this world or the Lord. You cannot trust in, love, and live for both the Lord and the world. Following—believing in—the Lord necessarily involves “taking up the cross” (v. 21), being willing to leave everything for the sake of Christ and the gospel (v. 29).

Today’s Devotional: Mark 9:30-50

You can download this week’s entire Daily Devotional in booklet form here.

Jesus a second time taught his disciples that he, the Son of God and Messiah, would be apprehended and executed, but three days later would rise from the dead (vv. 30-31). The disciples, however, were still clueless about what he talked about (v. 32).  

On the way to Capernaum the disciples competitively jostled with each other for number one status among themselves (vv. 33-34). Jesus, however, taught them that fellow believers should not jockey for position with one another but humbly serve and love each other (vv. 35-37).  

Jesus also taught them that there are true brethren who live and serve the same Lord elsewhere and they should accordingly love and support them (vv. 38-41).   Jesus warned that anyone seeking to cause believers to sin and fall away from him (“stumble,” v. 42) is guilty of great sin, proving that such persecutors are lost and eternally condemned (v. 42). Jesus then taught that true believers should not yield to temptation, taking whatever drastic measures are required to avoid falling away from him back into a life of sin (vv. 43-48).  

Believers who experience fiery persecution of those who seek to make them stumble should not yield to such (“if the salt loses its flavor,” v. 50) but continue in the faith (“have salt in yourselves,” v. 50) and love one another (“have peace with one another,” v. 50).  

Truths to Nail Down and Apply

1. Jesus is the greatest pattern and illustration of humbly serving and loving others (vv. 35-37; cf. Phil 2:1-16). You must have the same frame of mind as Jesus! Don’t jockey for position, humbly love and serve your brethren!
2. Christians are responsible for doing whatever it takes to not sin (vv. 43-48). The bill for enjoying sin’s temporary pleasures is paid with the eternal suffering of the soul. Christian, take whatever drastic measures are required to avoid sin!
3. Christians will be opposed and hated by unbelievers because of their faith (Phil 1:29; 2 Tim 3:12). Do not be surprised by this, Christian. Persevere in the faith, looking to Jesus.

Today’s Devotional: Mark 9:1-29

You can download this week’s entire Daily Devotional in booklet form here.

Jesus told the disciples that some of them would see the Kingdom of God (v. 1). Six days later Jesus’ physical, outward form was radically transformed (vv. 2-3), giving Peter, James, and John a glimpse of the glory of God’s coming Kingdom. Peter concluded that the kingdom was finally being established and so asked about setting up booths to get things going (v. 4; cf. Zech 14:16). God’s recognition of Jesus as his Son emphasized the disciples’ need to learn from and submit to Jesus (vv. 7-8). Jesus told them that Elijah came in the person of John the Baptist, but just as the Jewish leaders rejected him so they would reject Jesus, the Messiah (vv. 9-13).  

Returning to the other disciples, Jesus found them in a verbal scrum with the scribes (vv. 14-16). The disciples were unable to cast out a demon that had long afflicted a young man (vv. 17-23), and perhaps the scribes took the occasion of the disciples’ failure to accuse them and Jesus of being frauds. Jesus told the father to trust in him (vv. 23-24) and then commanded the demon to leave the young man (vv. 25-27). Jesus told the disciples who failed to remove the demon that depending on God through prayer is how spiritual changes are made (vv. 28-29).  

Truths to Nail Down and Apply

1. Many Christians say that the Kingdom of God is merely spiritual in nature, present in believers’ hearts. However, the radical transformation of Jesus’ physical, outward form from his then just-a-normal-looking-man appearance to brilliant glory disproves the “spiritual kingdom” idea. Jesus will return and reign in full glory when he establishes his kingdom on earth.
2. The disciples believed that Jesus was Israel’s king but could not grasp what Jesus meant by his suffering, death, and resurrection (v. 10). Only after Christ’s resurrection would they finally grasp how it all tied together (Acts 2:22-36).
3. Prayer to God is the bedrock and foundation of faithful, effective life and ministry (v. 29). Without expressing your belief in and dependence on the Lord for all things, you will live and minister in your own strength and wisdom, and will be frustrated and ineffective.